Luminaire mounting assembly



March 29, 1966 0. w, HARLING 3,243,152

LUMINAIRE MOUNTING ASSEMBLY Filed June 30, 1964 \NVENTOR DONALD W. HARLING 2M Wm ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,243,152 LUMINAIRE MOUNTING ASSEMBLY Donald W. Harling, South Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to McGraw-Edison Company, Milwaukee,.Wis.,. a corporation of Delaware Filed June 30,1964, Ser. No. 379,174 11 Claims. (Cl. 248221) This invention relates to a mounting assembly for luminaires and, more particularly, to new and improved means for directly mounting a luminaire on a vertical support.

One type of prior art. outdoor lighting fixture is constructed and arranged to be mounted adjacent a vertical support pole and to extend toward the area to be illuminated. For this purpose, a generally horizontally extending support pipe or mast arm. is affixed at one end to the pole while the lighting fixture is secured to the terminal of the support pipe by a sliding clamp called a slipfitter.

An object of the invention is to, provide a new and improved luminaire mounting assembly.

It is another object of the invention to provide a luminaire which is constructed and arranged to be horizontally mounted adjacent a vertical support pole without a support pole or mast arm.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive luminaire mounting and leveling assembly.

A further object of the invention is to provide luminaire mounting means which includes a member adapted to be mounted on a vertical support pole and having a vertically curved surface engageable by an end face of the luminaire and clamping meansfor tilting the end wall on the curved surface to level .the luminaire and to clamp the end wall to the member. v e

These and other objects and advantages of the'instant invention will become more apparent from the detailed description thereof taken with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a horizontally mounted luminaire incorporating the instant support structure; I

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, sectional view showing the mounting structure according ,to the instant invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective of the new and improved mounting structure; and

FIG. 4 shows an alternate embodiment of the instant invention.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG; 1 shows a luminaire or lighting fixture 10, which includes the generally ovate housing 11 having an elongate mounting portion 12 integrally formed at one endfor cooperative engagement with a mounting assembly 13 attached to a vertical wooden support pole 14. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that a light modifying reflector (not-shown) is disposed within the housing 11 for reflectihg light rays in a generally downward direction as viewed in FIG. 1, whereupon they are further modified by a cooperating refractor 15.

The refractor 15 is mounted on a bottom closure member 16 which is supported at one end beneath thehousing by a hinge assembly 17 to permit pivotal movement in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in'FIG. 1 so that the underside of the housing 10 may be exposed for relamping and other maintenance purposes. A latch assembly 18 is provided at the opposite side of the closure member 16 so that the latter may be aflixed in its closed position shown in FIG. 1, whereby the refractor is held in cooperative position relative to the reflector (not shown).

Energy may be supplied to the luminaire 10 from an overhead power source by conductors 19 which pass through an aperture 20 in the mouting portion 12 of the housing 11.

As seen particularly in FIG. 3, the mounting portion 12 of the housing 11 has an open bottom and an inverted U-shaped vertical cross-sectional configuration. A generally vertical, planar end wall 22 is provided in the mounting portion 12 for engagement with the mounting assembly 13. For this purpose, an elongate slot 25 is formed in the end wall 22 and extends from the lower end thereof for substantially its entire height to terminate at'its upper end in an inverted V-shaped notch 26.

The mounting assembly 13" includes a mounting plate 27 and a pole plate 28; The mounting plate 27 is a generally flat, trapezoidal member having a pair of vertically aligned clearance holes 29. The central portion 31 of pole plate 28 is horizontally curved for embracing the pole 14 and has a pair of vertically aligned clearance holes 32 formed therein. A bearing arm 33 extends forwardly from each side of the central portion 31 and each terminates in a vertically curved edge 34.

The mounting assembly 13 also includes a through bolt 36 and a lag bolt 37. When the luminaire 10 is to be mounted, the through bolt 36 is passed through the upper-most clearance holes 29 and 32 in the support plate-27 and the pole plate 28', respectively, while the lag bolt 37- is extended through each of the lower holes thereof. The through bolt 36 is then passed through a suitable aperture 38 in the pole 14 and a nut 40 is loosely secured to its opposite end. The lag bolt 37 is then patrially driven into the pole 14, at a point vertically beblow the hole 38. The mounting portion 12 of the housing 11 is then slid over the mounting plate 27, so that the slot 25in the end wall 22 passes around the bolts 36 and 37 with the notch 26 resting on the through bolt 36 to center end wall 22. This places the mounting plate 27 against the inner face 41 of the end wall 22 and the rear face 42 of said end wall against the edges 34 of the pole plate 28.

Because the trough bolt 36 and the lag bolt 37 will initially be loose when the rearwall 22 of the luminaire is placed between the mounting plate 27 and the pole plate 28, the front end ofthe luminaire 10 will tilt downwardly as viewed in FIG. 1 with the end Wall 22 and the mounting plate 27 resting against the head of bolt 36. The nut 40on-the through bolt 36 is then tightened to tilt the front end of the luminaire 10 upwardly as the rear surface of the end wall 22 tilts on the curved bearing edges 34,. When the luminaire is in a level position, the lag bolt 37 is tightened to lock the luminaire in position. The mounting plate 27 serves the purpose of equalizing pressure on the opposite faces of the end wall 22.

FIG. 4 shows an alternate embodiment of the invention wherein the luminaire is mounted on a metallic pole 14'. Here the pole plate 31 is rigidly aflixed to the pole by means of a pair of clamping bands 43 in a manner well-known in the art. A pair of embossments 44 are provided in vertically spaced relation on the central portion 31' and each has a central threaded opening 32' for receiving the threaded end of one of a pair of machine bolts 45 which extend through the openings 29 in the mounting plate 27. The luminaire is mounted in an identical manner, by sliding the central slot 25in the rear wall 22 over the loosened bolts 45. The upper bolt 45 is first tightened until the luminaire is level and the lower bolt 45 is then tightened to lock the luminaire in position.

It can be seen from the [foregoing that the mounting assembly '23, according .to the instant invention, provides an economical means for mounting a luminaire directly to a vertical support pole without the necessity for additional mast arms or support-ing pipes.

While only two embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, and while the invention has been described with respect to a particular type of luminaire, it is not intended to be limited thereby but only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination of, a luminaire and mounting means for afiixing said luminaire to a substantially vertically extending support, said mounting means including a member mountable on a support and having a generally vertical surface portion, said luminaire having an end Wall provided with an outer face engaging said surface portion, at least one of said surface portion and said outer end wall face being generally vertically curved, and the other being differently configured to provide substantially horizontal straight line engagement therebetween, and clamping means having a pair of individually adjustable vertically spaced apart portions for tilting said end wall on said surface portion to level said luminaire and for clamping said end wall to said member.

2. The combination of, a luminaire and mounting means for affixing said luminaire to a substantiallyvertically extending support, said mounting means including a first member mountable on a support and having a generally vertically curved surface portion, said luminaire having an end wall provided with inner and outer faces, said outer face engaging said curved surface portion, a second member engaging the inner face of said end wall, and clamping means for tilting said outer face on said curved surface portion to level said luminaire and to clamp said end wall bet-ween said first and second members.

3. The combination of, a luminaire and mounting means for afiixing said luminaire to a substantially vertically extending support, said mounting means including a first member mountable on 'a support and including a generally vertically curved surface portion, said luminaire having an end wall provided with inner and outer faces, said outer face engaging said curved surface portion, a second member engaging the inner face of said end wall, and a pair of clamping members disposed in vertically spaced relation for tilting said outer face on said curved surface portion to level said luminaire and for clamping said end wall between said first and second members.

4. The combination of, a luminaire and mounting means for afl'ixing said luminaire to a substantially vertically extending support, said mounting means including a first plate constructed and arranged for being mounted on a support and including a generally vertically curved surface portion, said luminaire having an end wall provided with inner and outer faces and a vertical slot which is open at its lower end, said outer face engaging said curved surface portion, a second plate engaging the inner face of said end wall, a pair of vertically aligned apertures formed in each of said plates and being opposed to said slot, corresponding ones of the apertures in each plate being in registry, and bolt means extending through each pair of registered apertures in said plates for tilting said end wall on said curved surface portion to level said luminaire and for clamping said end wall between said first and second plates.

5. The combination of, a luminaire and mounting means for aflixing said luminaire to a substantially vertically extending support pole, said luminaireincluding an elongate housing having light modifying means adjacent one end thereof, said mounting means-including a first plate having a horizontally curved surface on one side thereof for engaging a pole and a pair of generally vertically curved surface portions on the other side thereof, said luminaire having an end wall opposite said light modifying means and provided with inner and outer faces, said outer face engaging said vertically curved surface portions, a second plate engaging the inner face of said end Wall and a pair of clamping members engaging said first and second plates and disposed in vertically spaced relation for tilting said end wall on said vertically curved portions to level said luminaire and for clamping said luminaire in its leveled position.

6. The combination of, -a luminaire and mounting means for affixing said luminaire to a substantially vertically extending support pole, said luminaire including an elongate housing having light modifying means adjacent one end thereof, said mounting means including a first plate having a horizontally curved surface on one side thereof for engaging a pole and a pair of generally vertically curved surface portions on the other side thereof, said luminaire having an end wall opposite said light modifying means and provided with inner and outer faces and a vertical slot which is open at its lower end, said outer face" engaging said vertically curved surface portions, a second plate engaging the inner face of said end wall, a pair of vertically aligned apertures formed in each of said plates and being opposed to said slot, corresponding ones of the apertures in each plate being in registry, first bolt means extending through the uppermost aper ture in each plate for tilting said end wall on said vertically curved portions to level said luminaire, and second bolt means extending through the lowermost of said apertures (for clamping said luminaire in its leveled position.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein said first and second bolt means adjustably engage a pole for mounting said plates and luminaire thereon.

8. The combination set forth in claim '6 wherein pole embracing means are provided for securing said first plate to a pole, the apertures in said first plate being threaded for adjustably receiving each of said first and second bolt means.

9. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said end wall includes an inner face and including a second member engaging the inner face of said end wall and engagea'ble by said clamping means wherein said end wall is clamped between said members.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein said end wall has a vertical slot which is open at its lower end and wherein a pair of vertically aligned apertures are (formed in each of said members and opposed'to'said slot, corresponding ones of the apertures in each member being in registry, and'wherein said clamping means comprises bolt means extending through each pair of registered apertures in said members.

111. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the other of said surface portion and said outer end wall face being substantially planar.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 901,284 10/1908 Bdmunds 24823O 1,463,409 7/1923 Theiss 248299 X 1,554,055 9 1925 White 248299X 1,588,566 6/1926 Wismer 248--224X 3,018,081 1/1962 Waldbauer 24s 230 3,094,220 6/1963 Harling 211- 111 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner. Y 

5. THE COMBINATION OF, A LUMINAIRE AND MOUNTING MEANS FOR AFFIXING SAID LUMINAIRE TO A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY EXTENDING SUPPORT POLE, SAID LUMINAIRE INCLUDING AN ELONGATE HOUSING HAVING LIGHT MODIFYING MEANS ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF, SAID MOUNTING MEANS INCLUDING A FIRST PLATE HAVING A HORIZONTALLY CURVED SURFACE ON ONE SIDE THEREOF FOR ENGAGING A POLE AND A PAIR OF GENERALLY VERTICALLY CURVED SURFACE PORTIONS ON THE OTHER SIDE THEREOF, SAID LUMINAIRE HAVING AN END WALL OPPOSITE SAID LIGHT MODIFYING MEANS AND PROVIDED WITH INNER AND OUTER FACES, SAID OUTER FACE ENGAGING SAID VERTICALLY CURVED SURFACE PORTIONS, A SECOND PLATE ENGAGING THE INNER FACE OF SAID END WALL AND A PAIR OF CLAMPING MEMBERS ENGAGING SAID FIRST AND SECOND PLATES AND DISPOSED IN VERTICALLY SPACED RELATION FOR TILTING SAID END WALL ON SAID VERTICALLY CURVED PORTIONS TO LEVEL SAID LUMINAIRE AND FOR CLAMPING SAID LUMINAIRE IN ITS LEVELED POSITION. 